The Southwest monsoon which has intensified in the hills since last Friday is persisting in its intensity. The sudden heavy downpour on Tuesday early morning has forced the district administration to declare holiday for schools and colleges in Ooty, Kundah, Gudalur and Pandalur taluks for the day.

Meanwhile, the tribesmen have appealed for a special force to deal with the disaster management affairs in tribal hamlets. Making this plea, Mr.K.M.Alwas, secretary of the Nilgiris Adiwasi Welfare Association, said that some of the tribal hamlets in Pykara and Nanjanad belts have gone without power and water supply for the past five days.

Though it was taken to the knowledge of the concerned officials, no action was taken to restore power and water supply in the tribal hamlets, he said. As most of the tribal hamlets are located in remote areas, the district administration should constitute a task force exclusively to deal with disaster management and relief works in tribal hamlets. This would go a long way in reaching out to tribal hamlets in case of emergencies and heavy rains, he pleaded.

The rainfall recorded at various centres in Nilgiris as on 0830 hrs on Tuesday (in mm) were: Upper Bhavani-186, Avalanchee-164, Devala-92, Gudalur-87, Geddai-48, Emerald-45, Glenmorgan-44, and Naduvattam-29.